He recently won a Golden Globe for playing Liberace in Behind the Candelabra. And Michael Douglas now turns his attention to the world of comics with a role in Edgar Wright's forthcoming Ant-Man.

The Shaun of the Dead helmer has long sought to bring the Marvel character to the big-screen. And with the film currently in pre-production, things are moving at a pace. This is 40 star Paul Rudd was announced as playing Scott Lang/Ant-Man, a former thief turned superhero with the ability to change his size and communicate with insects. Yes, really.

Douglas will be playing scientist Hank Pym, an important figure in Marvel lore. In the world of the comics, Pym became famous as the original Ant-Man, with Lang taking up the mantle later on. Will the film follow the same chronology? It's unclear at this stage – but Douglas' enthusiasm for the character couldn't be more evident. "I've been dying to do a Marvel picture for so long," he told Reuters. "The script is really fun, the director is really good."

Douglas isn't the only Hollywood veteran to have signed on for Marvel. Robert Redford is playing SHIELD Agent Alexander Pierce in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, due out in March. Are we expecting to see a host of prestigious actors lending thespian weight to future Marvel movies? We'll have to wait and see.